Lead-acid battery designed to readily receive charging leads

Abstract

A lead-acid batteries having terminals designed to readily receive charging leads. The battery terminal and the charging cable lead utilize complementary configurations which interlock and provide an intimate and reliable connection between the terminal and lead. More specifically, an interlocking connection formed by a lead having two parallel legs which slide into slots formed in the wall of the side terminal has proven particularly effective. The interlocking terminal-lead connections eliminate the need of threadingly engaging and disengaging fasteners or adapters during charging that are normally necessary for side terminal batteries.

I claim: 
     
       1. A lead-acid side terminal battery capable of forming an interlocking connection with leads of a charging equipment, said leads comprising an exposed, electrically conductive surface, the battery comprising: a container having a front side wall,   a cover sealed to said container, and   a positive side terminal and a negative side terminal, each said side terminal located on said front side wall,   each said side terminal having a radial surface, an exposed electrically conductive terminal surface, said exposed electrically conductive surface being other than an exposed surface of a bolt, the side terminal radial surface being configured to slidingly receive said lead to form an interlocking connection with said lead whereby the exposed, electrically conductive surface of the lead contacts the exposed electrically conductive terminal surface.   
     
     
       2. The battery of claim 1 wherein said radial surface of at least one said side terminal has at least one slot which exposes said electrically conductive terminal surface of said terminal, whereby said corresponding lead slidingly engages said terminal slot and contacts said exposed electrically conductive surface of said terminal. 
     
     
       3. The battery of claim 2 wherein said radial surface of said at least one said side terminal comprises two opposed parallel slots where each exposes said electrically conductive surface of said terminal and said lead comprises two legs adapted to slidingly engage said slots. 
     
     
       4. The battery of claim 1 wherein at least one said terminal has an electrically conductive face surface, said radial surface of said terminal comprising at least one ear projecting outwardly from said radial surface of said terminal and the corresponding lead has a face, whereby said lead slidingly engages said terminal ear and creates contact between said terminal face and said lead face. 
     
     
       5. The battery of claim 4 wherein said radial surface of said at least one said side terminal comprises two opposed ears and said lead comprises a twist-on lead having two legs and said lead face interposed between said legs, whereby said legs slidingly engage said ears. 
     
     
       6. A lead-acid side terminal battery capable of forming an interlocking connection with leads of a charging equipment, said leads comprising an exposed, electrically conductive surface, the battery comprising: a container having a front side wall,   a cover sealed to said container, and   first and second side terminals, said first and second side terminals being located on said front side wall,   said first and second side terminals each having a radial surface and an exposed electrically conductive terminal surface, said radial surface of at least one of said side terminals having at least one slot which exposes said electrically conductive terminal surface of said at least one terminal, the side terminal radial surface of the first and the second side terminals being configured to slidingly receive said lead to form an interlocking connection with said lead whereby the exposed, electrically conductive surface of the lead contacts the exposed electrically conductive terminal surface.   
     
     
       7. The battery of claim 6 wherein said radial surface of said at least one said side terminal comprises two opposed parallel slots where each exposes said electrically conductive surface of said terminal and said lead comprises two legs adapted to slidingly engage said slots. 
     
     
       8. A lead-acid side terminal battery capable of forming an interlocking connection with leads of a charging equipment, said leads comprising an exposed, electrically conductive surface, the battery comprising: a container having a front side wall,   a cover sealed to said container, and   first and second side terminals, said first and second side terminals being located on said front side wall,   said first and second side terminals each having a radial surface and an exposed electrically conductive terminal surface, the electrically conductive terminal surface of at least one said side terminal comprising an electrically conductive face, the side terminal radial surface being configured to slidingly receive said lead to form an interlocking connection with said lead whereby the exposed, electrically conductive surface of the lead contacts the exposed electrically conductive terminal surface, said radial surface of said at least one said side terminal comprising at least one ear projecting outwardly from said radial surface of said at least one said side terminal and the electrically conductive surface of the corresponding lead is a face, whereby said lead slidingly engages said terminal ear and creates contact between said terminal face and said lead face.   
     
     
       9. The battery of claim 8 wherein said radial surface of said at least one side terminal comprises two opposed cars and said lead comprises a twist-on lead having two legs and said lead face interposed between said legs, whereby said legs slidingly engage said ears. 
     
     
       10. A method of electrically forming or charging a lead-acid side terminal battery having a positive side terminal and a negative side terminal using a charging equipment with leads, said terminals having radial terminal walls, the method comprising the steps of: sliding a first said lead substantially adjacent the radial wall of the positive terminal with an exposed electrically conductive surface of the first said lead in direct contact with an exposed electrically conductive surface of the positive terminal, said exposed electrically conductive surface being other than an exposed surface of a bolt,   engaging the first said lead with the positive terminal to form an interlocking connection between said first lead and the positive terminal,   sliding a second said lead substantially adjacent the radial wall of the negative terminal with an exposed electrically conductive surface of the second said lead in direct contact with an exposed electrically conductive surface of the negative terminal,   engaging the second said lead with the negative terminal to form an interlocking connection between said second lead and the negative terminal,   supplying current through said leads directly to said terminals, and   disconnecting said interlocking terminal and lead connections upon completion of charging.   
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of providing at least one said radial terminal wall with at least one slot which exposes said electrically conductive surface of said terminal, and said corresponding engaging step comprises engaging the respective lead with said terminal slot contacting said exposed electrically conductive surface of said terminal. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11 wherein said providing step comprises providing said at least one said radial terminal wall with two opposed parallel slots where each exposes an electrically conductive surface of said terminal and providing said lead with two legs, and said corresponding engaging step comprises engaging said legs with said slots. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of providing at least one said radial terminal wall with at least one ear projecting outwardly from said radial terminal wall, and said corresponding engaging step comprises engaging the respective lead with said terminal ear and creating contact between a corresponding terminal face and said lead. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 13 wherein said providing step comprises providing at least one said radial terminal wall with two opposed ears and said lead with a twist-on lead having two legs and said face interposed between said legs, and said corresponding engaging step comprises engaging said legs with said ears. 
     
     
       15. A method of electrically forming or charging a lead-acid side terminal battery having first and second side terminals using a charging equipment with leads, said terminals having radial terminal walls, the method comprising the steps of: providing the radial wall of at least one said side terminal with at least one slot which exposes an electrically conductive surface of said terminal,   sliding a first said lead substantially adjacent the radial wall of the first side terminal with an exposed electrically conductive surface of the first lead in direct contact with said exposed electrically conductive surface of the first side terminal   engaging the said first lead with said terminal slot to form an interlocking connection between the first lead and the first side terminal,   sliding a second said lead substantially adjacent the radial wall of the second side terminal with an exposed electrically conductive surface of the second lead in direct contact with an exposed electrically conductive surface of the second side terminal,   engaging the second lead with the second side terminal to form an interlocking connection between said second lead and the second terminal,   supplying current through said leads directly to said terminals, and   disconnecting said interlocking terminal and lead connections upon completion of charging.   
     
     
       16. The method of claim 13 wherein said providing step comprises providing said at least one said radial terminal wall with two opposed parallel slots where each exposes an electrically conductive surface of said terminal and providing said lead with two legs, and said corresponding engaging step comprises engaging said legs with said slots. 
     
     
       17. A method of electrically forming or charging a lead-acid side terminal battery having first and second side terminals using a charging equipment with leads, said terminals having radial terminal walls, the method comprising the steps of: providing at the radial terminal wall of the first side terminal with at least one ear projecting outwardly from said radial wall of the first terminal,   sliding a first said lead substantially adjacent the radial wall of the first terminal with an exposed electrically conductive surface of the first lead in direct contact with an exposed electrically conductive surface of the first terminal,   engaging the first lead with said terminal ear of the first terminal to form an interlocking connection between said first lead and the first terminal, and creating contact between a first terminal face and said first lead,   sliding a second said lead substantially adjacent the radial wall of the second terminal with an exposed electrically conductive surface of the second lead in direct contact with an exposed electrically conductive surface of the second terminal   engaging the second lead with the second terminal to form an interlocking connection between said second lead and the second terminal,   supplying current through said leads directly to said terminals, and disconnecting said interlocking terminal and lead connections upon completion of charging.   
     
     
       18. The method of claim 16 wherein said providing step comprises providing at least one said radial terminal wall with two opposed ears and said lead with a twist-on lead having two legs and said face interposed between said legs, and said corresponding engaging step comprises engaging said legs with said ears.